“The Beatitudes” by Jen Norton. 30×48″ Acrylic on Canvas, $7200
As a child, I found the list of Beatitudes perplexing. Blessed are they who are meek, mourning and persecuted? What?? And “poor in spirit” seems an awfully lonely place to be. Jesus’ ideal for supreme blessedness preached in his Sermon on the Mount stands in stark contrast to the world in which we live…one that equates blessings and happiness with success, power and security.
With 5 decades of life behind me, I can reflect that it was during my most troubled times that I was most assured of God’s love. It was at my lowest points, with my own skills judged powerless, that I turned to the only thing left: “prayer and petition”. And as Paul promises in Philippians 4:6-7, I found that “peace that surpasses all understanding” at my side.
Why don’t I always turn to God first? Because I am stubborn. And human. Most of us need the struggle and desperation to fully transform our hearts, softening them towards God’s will. We need that fire to forge us into disciples, ready for our Holy Work.
Jesus didn’t actually preach this list of blessings to the larger crowd…. Instead, he traveled to higher ground and sat. And waited for his disciples to come to him.
Re-reading this scripture passage now, I am struck by another point: Jesus didn’t actually preach this list of blessings to the larger crowd. And he didn’t go into much detail about each blessing. Instead, he traveled to higher ground and sat. And waited for his disciples to come to him. Only then did he teach them. Interesting.
Perhaps it is impossible for us to understand the truth of these hard-won blessings until we’ve traveled up our own mountains, searching for Jesus. And when we finally realize that God’s “grace is sufficient”, we are no longer dependent on detailed instruction. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. We know it when we know it.
Are you at the bottom of your mountain, filled with anxiety? Are you striving for Jesus, helping others along as you encounter their needs? Or is your heart renewed with a childlike acceptance, fully aware of God’s presence and protection in the midst of your fear?
Wherever you are in your life’s journey… keep struggling up that mountain of dependency on God’s grace. Jesus is waiting for you.
Matthew 5:1-12
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“The Beatitudes” original painting is available at The Sacred Art Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. Contact geri@thesacredartgallery.com.
